Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition vs. Morality
Femininity, Sexuality, and Power
Truth and Identity
Family
Summary
Analysis
Evelyn’s biography picks back up the day after the Oscars. When Harry reads the note from Max, he’s silent for a while before suggesting that nothing would change between himself and Evelyn if they got a divorce. He would still visit every day, and Connor would sleep at his house whenever she wanted. In fact, a divorce would make more sense of why they live in separate houses. Harry tells Evelyn to do what she wants, and says it’d be good for her to fall in love with someone. Evelyn doesn’t like the idea of divorcing Harry, but he suggests she showed him the note because she’s tempted to marry Max.
Evelyn is completely transparent with Harry, and her trust in him is evident from the fact that she shares Max’s note with him before deciding how she feels. It’s also proof that their relationship is built on stronger, more honest foundations than Evelyn’s relationship with Celia was. Harry wants what’s best for Evelyn; it seems his role in her life as friend and coparent rather than a lover allows him to help her find happiness without wanting to exert any control over her.
Themes
Three weeks later, Evelyn visits Max’s apartment to ask whether his proposal is serious. He confirms it is: it’s been 20 years since they first met, and he’s directed three of the most important films in Evelyn’s career. She inspires him just as he inspires her. They undress each other and have sex, bringing Evelyn pleasure she hasn’t felt in years. Afterwards, she asks Max whether he'd accept being a stepfather and whether it’d bother him that Harry would always be around. Max says he’s fine with those things, and he also doesn’t mind moving into Evelyn’s apartment. Evelyn agrees to marry him.
Evelyn and Max’s relationship is built on the foundation of a shared artistic vision—but that’s a vision that has always involved Evelyn’s (mostly nude) body, which is a sign that Max’s attraction to Evelyn is inherently sexual. While she sees him as an artistic equal, his attitude toward her seems more like that of an artist to his muse, hinting at a potential mismatch in their goals for marriage.
Themes
